Abstract
A warm welcome to the Diamond Anniversary Edition of Medicine, Science and the Law. I am delighted to be writing to you on this special occasion as we celebrate over 60 years of collaboration and learning.
The British Academy of Forensic Sciences (BAFS) actually held its first meeting in 1960 but we have been prevented from celebrating as we would have wished at an earlier stage because of the pandemic. Our Academy was founded to tackle miscarriages of justice through the sharing of knowledge between our multi-disciplinary membership. Our current members are a wonderful mix of barristers, forensic scientists, solicitors, judges, coroners, pathologists, police officers, doctors, forensic medical examiners, academics, researchers and a healthy cohort of students in all these specialist areas (with apologies to any group I have missed). The diversity of our membership is one of the key factors in BAFS’ contribution to study and the advancement of knowledge to benefit the criminal justice system.
We have had many eminent Presidents over the last 60 years but it seems an appropriate moment to remember those at the very beginning.
Professor Sir Leon Radzinowicz, the first President, founded the department of criminal science at Cambridge University. His research into trends in legal thought made a significant contribution to the administration of justice in many democratic countries, in addition to his lasting legacy to us in BAFS.
Sir Thomas George Lund is honoured by BAFS with a biennial lecture in recognition of his pivotal role in the foundation of the national legal aid scheme, the establishment of which has been, until recently, a crucial contributor to the fair representation of the accused throughout the criminal investigation process.
Professor Francis E. Camps’ work on the murders at 10 Rillington Place contributed to a great degree to the conviction of Christie and the consequent exoneration of Timothy Evans, which was in turn a significant factor in the abolition of the death penalty in the UK.
From the vision of these pioneers over 60 years ago, BAFS has developed into the vibrant organisation we have today. Our recent anniversary celebration at Middle Temple was a wonderful occasion, attended by HM Chief Coroner, with an address from Dame Cressida Dick QPM, who praised the Academy for its contribution to forensic science over the decades.
I am very proud to be still serving as your President after a couple of years in the post and I am extremely lucky to be supported by an enthusiastic and very capable executive council. With their help we have had an excellent programme of events over the last few years, most recently the Neuroscience and the Law conference hosted by long-serving and much valued EC member Professor Michael Kopelman. This was an extremely successful event tinged with sadness due to the loss of a dear friend and colleague, Professor Nigel Eastman, 1 who would most certainly have enjoyed the day and contributed enthusiastically to the debate. We will miss him.
As we look to the future, I am very excited about the International Blood Pattern Analysis Conference which will have taken place by the time you read this. We already have record numbers of bookings and a full programme for the rest of the year. The joint conference with the Royal Society of Medicine in January promises to be another highlight, focusing on disasters and their aftermath, and victim identification,2,3 an area I am becoming ever more familiar with as the war in Ukraine progresses.
Our website is currently undergoing a much-needed overhaul, directed by our excellent Treasurer Jill Battley. Jill is also managing to maintain a buoyant financial position, allowing us to invest in the website and for our future success, so many thanks to her for a job well done. Thanks must also go as always to Lesley Nott for her administrative help. Somehow she manages to ensure that all our events are a pleasure to attend. On this special occasion, I am sure you will all join me in sending our appreciation to Professor Denise Syndercombe-Court, our Secretary General and stalwart of BAFS for much of its history.
My final word here must be to congratulate Professor Andrew Forrester, Editor-in-Chief of Medicine, Science and the Law, for his amazing work in modernising and re-energising our journal. We have a publication and an organisation to be proud of, with much to look forward to for the future. Thank you all for your continued support and for celebrating this milestone with us, wherever you are in the world.